Cybersecurity

Two recent cyberattacks on water systems highlight vulnerability of critical infrastructure

Pro-Iran hackers allegedly hit a system near Pittsburgh, causing it to replace its Israeli-made equipment as a precaution. Meanwhile, another group hit a system in North Texas and caused operational issues.

  • By Chris Teale

How to use generative AI to improve operations while protecting sensitive data

COMMENTARY | Large language models like ChatGPT offer state and local agencies exciting new capabilities, but they also introduce new security risks.

  • By Mike Morper

Funding for local cybersecurity efforts is insufficient, survey says

Local government IT executives are reluctant to even ask elected officials for more, according to the group behind the survey, knowing requests will likely be rejected.

  • By Chris Teale

These federal grants could help shore up your cyberdefences

A report from the Government Accountability Office identified 27 grants not “intended to primarily support cybersecurity activities” that state and local governments could tap for critical funding—if they have grant writing expertise.

  • By Kery Murakami

FCC wants to improve cyber protections for schools, libraries

Faced with a growing number of cyberattacks on school districts nationwide, the agency announced a three-year pilot program to gather data on the best cyberdefenses.

  • By Chris Teale

Misinformation, cybersecurity among top issues ahead of 2024 elections

State and local officials face a new threat from the proliferation of deepfakes and misinformation, driven by artificial intelligence.

  • By Chris Teale

Election security threats require more federal resources, officials say

Facing growing cyber and physical threats, state and local election administrators told U.S. senators that more federal assistance is needed to safeguard voting systems and personnel.

  • By Edward Graham

As TikTok and other Chinese technologies are deemed dangerous, what should state and local governments do?

COMMENTARY | Finding and replacing Chinese-made equipment in state and local government networks will be challenging and expensive. But the threat is genuine and must not be ignored.

  • By Tom Guarente

‘No middle ground’: State, local collaboration essential to cyber defense

New York’s whole-of-state approach to cybersecurity promotes cooperating with local governments to face down threats and build a skilled workforce pipeline.

  • By Chris Teale

EPA withdraws cyber audit requirement for water systems

The agency asserted that it still “remains committed” to helping states protect their water systems, despite legal challenges to its formal mandate.

  • By Alexandra Kelley

A potential federal shutdown is yet another thing for election officials to worry about

Chaos in Congress could leave local election officials without the resources they need for 2024.

  • By Carrie Levine, Votebeat

Feds plan new 'secure-by-design' guidance

The nation’s cyber defense agency is continuing to drive a major effort to shift security responsibilities from users to software providers.

  • By Chris Riotta
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As cyberattacks grow, cyber insurance is increasingly out of reach for many municipalities

Experts caution that governments need to recalibrate their cyber risk management approaches by emphasizing employee training and taking a whole-of-state approach.

  • By Liz Farmer

How one state pushes cybersecurity to local agencies

Arizona’s whole-of-state cybersecurity program gives local governments free access to cloud-based cybersecurity tools—an approach that extends security and helps build a problem-solving community.

  • By Stephanie Kanowitz

Arkansas social media age verification law struck down by federal court

Law would’ve been the first to restrict social network access based on age and parental permission.

  • By Hunter Field, Arkansas Advocate

US water infrastructure ‘unsustainable’ amid rapidly evolving crisis, report warns

The United States is facing an unsustainable demand for water and lacks the security posture to defend the nation’s water systems from emerging threats, according to a new report.

  • By Chris Riotta

3 low-risk, low-budget ways state and local governments can protect their data

COMMENTARY | By taking advantage of federal resources and leaning into autonomous technology and cybersecurity education, agencies can keep constituent data safe.

  • By Joye Purser

States ramp up software security standards amid growing threats

Collaboration among states to tighten the security of cloud software is increasing under the nationwide program StateRAMP. Meanwhile, Texas is embracing its own certification effort after several high-profile cyber incidents.

  • By Chris Teale

Feds prioritizing on-site K-12 cybersecurity reviews this school year

The nation’s cyber defense agency is aiming to work with schools “where they’re at instead of where they should be.” 

  • By Chris Riotta

The fallout from the MOVEit hack continues as more agencies announce breaches

A Colorado health department said recently more than 4 million patients’ data had been accessed. But the real challenge awaits state and local governments as they look to patch vulnerabilities before more criminals exploit them.

  • By Chris Teale

Three years since the start of the pandemic, unemployment insurance fraud is still a multibillion dollar problem

Several states have recently reported increases in fraudulent claims. After spending hundreds of millions of dollars to upgrade systems, emerging threats are putting pressure on states to modernize even further.

  • By Chris Teale